Fluid flow control system



FLUID FLOW CONTROL SYSTEM www@ "/////////A||nn l5 I2 HG. 2. WOR- ATTORNE V5 Dec- 7, 1954 w. R. EDDY 2,696,083

FLUID FLow CONTROL SYSTEM Filed Dec. 4, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. F/G. 3. w. R. EDDY BY/#Mm/ A 7' TORNE VS Dec. 7, 1954 I w. R. EDDY 2,696,083

FLUID FLow CONTROL SYSTEM Filed Dec. 4, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 HYDRAULIC FLUID STORAGE \6I F /G. 5.

HYDRAULIC f59 FLUID STORAGE INVENTOR.

W. R. EDDY A T TORNEI/5 United States Patent' C This invention relates to apparatus for centroll"'g` how of fluids.- In one embodirrieri-t this iiiverition re tesv to' a system for dispensing liquefied g'ases.- lnanothr' ernbod-imen-t this invention rela-tesA4 to apparatus for cion-I trolling flow of fluids through a norrnally closedv valve actuated by hydraulic fluid pressure; ai)

From the standpoint of safety it is esseri-tial that all connections to liquefied petroleum gas' containers be pro?, tected as much as possible from the results'-f mech al damage. Under a few special circumstances i possibleto assemble various tank outlets with then and fittings into a relatively sin-all area and toprte'c the: assembly with a heavy guard. However,- inost fjobil'e equipment it is necessary to havepipe lines; located'in areas which will be vulnera-ble' to breakage through col'- lision. It has been the practiceto seexcessilow to protect liquefied petroleum g'a-scontiners afge-inst f of contents through outlet connectionsin case of 'e breakage. The excess w valves are general p' A p iny the tank outlet nozzles. Suchavalve is heldin'I normallyopen position-- by means ofa springendthe'v 35 valve closes automatically when a llow-o`ceurs greater'I than that for which the valve isA designed. While the excess flow valve is ac reliable safety deviceunder mostconditions, there are instances where i'tcannot' perfor i its desired function'. `For example, if an' eiices's flow valve is designed to' pass 100 gallons `per 'minteanda line break on the downstream vside of ythe'rval've is' such that the break will pass only' 75 gallons per minute, thfe excess flow valve will not closef.- Obviously, the escape of an inflammable liquid, as liquid propane ordbntane 45 at such a rate would' createa tremendousf'h My invention is concernedvwithacontr combination' with a* storage tanlegcontainihg affluid*uiidejr super-atmospheric pressure, providing for the erneirgericy shut-olf of liquid liow from the storage tank, inithe4 case of line breakage in the dispensing"k system, orthe o'ccrrence of re in close proximity to the system; p

An object of my invention" is tol provide a systeiir for dispensing gas under pressure.` Another object of my in? vention is'to provide safe equipment for haridilngliq'ue- 5 fied gases, that will be safe as' can be devised, and that will comply with the Standards of the'- National BoardY of Fire Underwriters and the NBFU pamphlet` No; 58; and all similar standards of safety. Another objectI is toprovide a system for handlingliq'uefiedgases.'4 Another object is toprovide, in combination-with a' storagetark containing liquefied gases at superatiiio'sphericj pressure, a safe system for dispensingliquidi frorn the tank. Another object isto provide for the c/'ohtrolof'iluidflowj through a normally closed valveactuated byvh'y'dra'nlic fluid pressure. Anotherv Objectis toproyide' fo'rpthe" automa-tic shutoff of liquefied gasowfromra stor ey tank, when such liquidl is being disv ensed therefrom-orv delivered thereinto, in the even'to va break; orf rupture of a conduit* carrying suchliquid'. Other objec'itswillbe v70 apparent to those skilled irith'e' artfroirl the gaccoriipaii'ying discussion and disclosure. v i i In accordance with one' embodiment of my 'invention' I have provided asystem" incombination( with Ja storagetank containing a Huid-under s'uperatmospheric-pressure, 75 for dispensing the fluid from the tank-andautomatically terminating fluid flow therefrom, in the event"of line' breakage in the'dispensing system, or the"occurrerice`o'f s lire-in close-proximityto the tank;landfdispensing-system:'

In abroad embodiment,- -the dispensing;system'` ofI my invention in combination with a` tank comprises-affluid 2,696,083 tented Dec. 7,v 1 954 fice dispensing c nden 'in aislamientos with the taak,- a

pressure flu-id conduit for conducting hydraulic lluid flow under pressure, niez'u'is` for' establishing iiuid pressure in the pressure huid conduit, a motorco'ntrolled valve in the fluid dispensing conduit comprising' a shut-off valve controlling flow of liuid from the tank, a motor controlling the shut-off valve and means biasing` the shut-olf valve closed. The motoriis connected to the fluid pressure conduit and is operated by fluid pressure therein to overcome the biasihg means and to open the valve to permit uid ilow' therethrough. as desired. A pilot valve closed during'- no'rrnal How of liuid through the dispensing conduit is connected with the pressure uid conduit,` and when moved into an open position bleeds fluid pressure from the pressure liuid eonduit thereby permitting the biasing means to -close the shut-olf valve. The pilot valve is opened in' response to an increase in the rate of discharge flow of 'id through the dispensing conduit to above a predetermined value, i-. e., one above the rate of fluid flow employed during any time that uid is being dispensed from the tank. `This is done by means of a shaft or vane extending from within the fluid dispensing conduit to a point outside the dispensing conduit in communicatio withthe pilot valve, :and `adapted to be pivotally', moved about aupoint intermediate its ends, preferably n'ea'r its mid-point. The', shaft isnpivotally moved in response to an excess rate of o'W of iluid through the dispensing conduit and when so moved is adapted to cause the bleed-olf .valve ,to operil and to vent liuid pressure'frornthe pressure liuid conduit whereby the biasing means aboveidiscssed closes the shut-olf valve and stops flowy through the dispensing conduit.

AIn a preferred embodiment the shut-off valve is disposedv inside the tank; with the iiuid dispensing line and pressurev fluid conduit disposedlin close proximity to each o't'her,'preferably in parallel.. At least one fusible plugiand" generally a plurality is disposed latselected points' in the wall of the fluid pressure conduit. The pilot valve is generally a Dil-type or common core-type valve' and is positioned s o that its stern is disposed in lsp'a'ced-a'p'artrelation Wi'th'- the end of the shaft outside the dispensing conduit, so that when the shaft is pivotally moved in response' toan increasey inl the rate of fluid flow described above, it contacts and moves the stem to unseat the valve and ,bleed fluid pressure from the fluid pressure conduit.- Other type pilot valvescanfbe utilized,

as forv example','v a ball-*type *check*` valve, a piston-typeA checkvalve', a swing-type check valve, or the like, alll of whieh can'be adapted to 'remain closed unless moved intoI an open` position. y i n Y l,

The dispensing system of my invention is superior fromv a safety standpoint to the excess flow valve previously discussed above, because the valve" in. the motor valve, i. e., the' shut-off valve, is/inY a normally.. closed position except when liuidy isb'eingpuniped into Ior out of the tank', so that except when ow is.l occurring; the'tank is protected at all times by meansy ofY a closed shut-olf-valve.'

When" liquid" is' beiiig'lpassed k through the v dispensing line, the" system: Cif-'myk inventiony provides ,for y automatically bleeding, o r venting', iluid' from thepressure fiiiid conduit in' case off lire in close prpximity to' they system orrih case of line breakage' aboveV discussed, Y wherebyl in` either instnce'or bothg'theval'v'e in the liquidvdi'spensng line is closed andthe flow'nof liquidy from .the tankis terminatd Fusible plu-gsy 4ernpl'cayed' infk the pressurejcon'- duit wall canbefabricated of-"such low meltingA ma'- terials as Woods metal, for( bismuth solder, or other such suitableffusiblefalloys havingl a meltiiigpoin'tj lower v,than that'v of the1r1aterialsf`- ofwwhic'hfy lie pressure conduit is4 fabricated'. Generally,lfusiblef plugsare selected having melting"V pointslnoti lower` than about 80 C.' andmnot exceeding' about y20D-1500 C., although ,plugs having meltingl points" outside that* rangev may .be utilized if desired; Incase of r'e'in closel proximity t the'y dispensingsystem, the-fusible plugs in the fluidy pressure conduit become heated, and' melt, providingv openings' in the Wall of the iiuidpressurecohdit through Whichfluid' yI prefer to'locate thevliuidy pressure conduit and the` gas dispensing line' in close proximity to each other, in

order that any breakage that occurs in one line will be very likely to occur in the other, so that the combined..

features of my invention will be employed concomitantly, to terminate Jdow of liquid from the tank. For these reasons l prefer to dispose the liquid dispensing line and fluid pressure conduit in parallel to each other. 1t is to be understood however that my invention provides for terminating the flow of liquid from the storage tank when either the pressure iluid conduit or the liquid dispensing line is broken, regardless of whether or not they are in close proximity to each other,

Reference is made to the attached figures illustrative of various embodiments of my invention. lt is to be understood that the gures are diagrammatic only and may be altered in many respects by those skilled in the art and yet remain within the intended scope of my invention.

Figure l is a sectional elevational View of one form of a pilot valve assembly of my invention in combination with a conduit for conveying fluids.

Figure 2 is a sectional elevational view of another form of a pilot valve assembly of my invention in combination with a conduit for conveying tiuids.

Figure 3 is a sectional elevational view of a motor valve operated by fluid pressure, which can be employed to control now of fluid to and from the storage tank.

Figure 4 is a sectional elevational view of another motor valve operated by fluid pressure, that can be employed to control ilow of fluid to and from the storage tank.

Figure 5 is a diagrammatic elevational view of a plurality of storage tanks in combination with a fluid dispensing system, embodying one form of my invention.

Figure 6 is a diagrammatic elevational View of a storage tank in combination with a fluid dispensing system, embodying another form of my invention.

Referring to Figure l, pilot valve housing 11b having opening 11 in its side wall is connected to conduit 12 through opening 1S in a side wall thereof by means of gasket 13 and flange 14 so as to permit housing 1i) to communicate directly with the interior of conduit 12 through opening 11. Shaft or vane 16 extends from the interior of conduit 12 into housing 1t) through openings 11 and 15. Flexible seal ring 17 is secured around at least a portion of shaft 16 extending through openings 11 and 15, and closes the connecting conduit thus formed by openings 11 and 15, so as to flexibly support and seal shaft 16 in such a connecting conduit. Shaft 16 together with flexible seal 17 is held in place in the connecting conduit by means of lock ring 18. ln this manner shaft 16 is adapted to be pivotally moved about seal 17. An end portion 19 of shaft 16 is shaped in any desired manner to facilitate contact of the shaft with iiuid flowing through conduit 12, often as a flat blade or paddle` positioned to expose its broadside against the direction of uid flow. Shaft 16 is thereby adapted to be pivotally moved about seal 17 in response to ow of uid from a storage tank through conduit 12.

Pilot valve housing is preferably so-connected with conduit 12 at a point in close proximity to the iluid storage tank described hereafter, i. e., as close as possible to the shut-off valve, also described further hereafter. a preferred embodiment, housing 1li is affixed to conduit 12 so that end 19 of shaft 16 is immediately subjacent the discharge side of the shut-off valve.

Valve 21 is any desired type of valve maintained normally closed. Valve 21 preferably is a core-type valve, as for example, a tire valve, often referred to as a Diltype valve and is a type well known in the art. Normally closed valve 21v is connected at its upstream end 25 with Huid inlet 23 in a side wall of housing 1t?. Valve stem 24 terminating adjacent the downstream end of valve 21 is adapted to unseat normally closed valve 21 when moved in a direction toward the upstream end 22.

Shaft 16 terminates in housing 10 in spaced-apart relation to the end 26 of stem 24. The end of shaft 16 in housing 10 is biased in a position out of contact with stem 24 by spring biasing means 29 which counteracts the force exerted against a lower end 19 of shaft 16 by uid flowing against it through conduit 12. Member 27 extending from cap 28 in a side wall of housing 1d supports the position of shaft 16 when out of contact with end 26. When the force of the uid flowing in conduit 12 against end 19 of shaft 16 is greater than the biasing effect against shaft 16, exerted by spring 29, shaft 16 is caused to pivot about seal 17 and to Contact and (ill move stem 24 to unseat valve 21. At such a time, fluid from inlet 23 is caused to pass through valve 21. Fluid outlet 31 in a side wall of housing 1b is in direct communication with the outlet side of valve 21 and permits discharge of fluid from housing 10 admitted through valve 21. The biasing effect of spring 29 is predetermined so that it is overcome only when the force of fluid flow through conduit 12 against shaft 16 therein is repre sentative of the rate of flow of that fluid higher than utilized during normal flow as discussed more fully hereafter.

Referring to Figure 2, housing 1li is connected with conduit 12 in the manner illustrated in the discussion of Figure l, i. e., so that it is connected with the interior of conduit 12 by a connecting conduit formed by openings 11 and 15. Shaft 16, extending from the interior of conduit 12 into housing 1t) through the connecting conduit, is pivotally supported near its mid-point 32. Support at point 32 is any desired pivotal support such as a pin 33 extending from an inner side wall of housing 10 as illustrated. The force of fluid passing through conduit 12 against shaft 16 therein causes shaft 16 to be pivotally moved about pin 33.

Fluid inlet 23 in housing 10 is disposed through nipple 34 supported in housing 10 by means of flange 36 and gasket 37. Valve 38 in housing 10 comprises nozzle 39, seal 41, and valve stem 42, and is biased closed by spring means 40.

Valve 38 is in communication with shaft 16 only through passageway 44. O ring 43 is secured around valve stem 42 in passageway 44 thereby sealing stem 42 so as to prevent tiow of fluid from conduit 12 through passageway 44 into direct contact with valve 38.

The end 46 of stem 42 is positioned in spaced-apart relation in housing 10 with the upper end of shaft 16. Valve 38 is biased closed by spring 4@ with sufficient force to counteract the force against the lower end of shaft 16 exerted by the ow of fluid against it through conduit 12. Member 27 of cap 2S extends into housing 10 to support the position of shaft 16 when out of contact with end 46 of valve stem 42. When the force of fluid flow in conduit 12 against shaft 16 is greater than the biasing effect against normally closed valve SES, shaft 16 is caused to pivot about pin support 33 and to contact and move stem 42 so as to unseat valve 38. At such a time, iiuid is permitted to pass from inlet 23 through valve 38. Fluid outlet 31 is in direct communication with the outlet side of valve 36 and thereby permits discharge from housing 10 of fluid passed through valve The biasing effect of spring 4t) against valve .18, i. e., to hold valve 38 closed, is predetermined to be overcome only when the force of fluid flowing through conduit 12 against shaft 16 therein is representative of a flow rate higher than that to be utilized during normal flow of uid through conduit 12.

With reference to Figure 3, illustrative of a motor valve operated by fluid pressure, that can be employed to control ilow of uid to and from the storage tank as briefly discussed hereinabove, motor valve 81 is comprised of valve disc 82, held in place by disc retainer S3 and cap member 84 against valve seat 86. The valve 67 as illustrated is in a closed position and is biased closed by means of coil spring 88 supported from points $9 on the exterior wall of the top portion of piston chamber 91. Disc retainerl 83 is held in place by screws 92. Valve disc 82 is raised from seat 86 by raising cap member 84 in an upward direction against the force of spring 88. This is done by means of iiuid pressure exerted upwardly against the interior of cap 84, by hydraulic fluid introduced under pressure through conduit 93 against the bottom of piston 94. Piston 94 is disposed vertically inside piston chamber 91 and is held in alignment by piston rings 96 separated by an O ring 76. ln response to pressure of hydraulic fluid thus introduced, piston 94 is raised upwardly against the top portion of cap member 84, raising it vertically. When this occurs, the extent to which the valve is opened is dependent upon iluid pressure, which in turn is regulated to permit the desired rate of ow of liquid, to be passed through valve S7. Liquid passed through valve 87 is discharged through opening 97.

Suitable arrangements can be employed such as ring 98 welded to the outside of the tank 99 to which the main body of motor valve 12 can be secured by means of studs 101. Screen 102 is disposed to prevent contact statuts.;osav

oi` foreign materials such as tank sediments, mill scale, and the like, within tank 99, with valve disc 82 and valve seat 86,` thereby preventing any possible damage to these members of motor valve 81.

Figure 4ris illustrative of another motor valve operated by uid pressure, that can be employed to control flow of fluid to and from the storage tank. Thisr motor valve 110, is comprised of a valve housing 111 provided exteriorly with a connecting means such as threads 112 and a weakened relatively easily frangible portion 113 formed by encompassing Valve housing 111 with groove 114. Valve housing 111 is provided with chamber 116 having openings 117 and 118. At one end of valve housing 111, therel is provided a spider 119 having a centrally located opening 121 therein and held in place in an .inner recess 122 by a Valve seat 123. Valve seat 123 is provided with a seating surface 124 against which presses sealing means 126 mounted in cap ring 127 which .in turn isl removably mounted on valve head 128 and is yheld firmly in place by screws 129. Valve stem 131 is likewise removably attached to valve head 128 and extends through opening 121 in spider 119 which maintains valve head 128 in proper alignment so that sealing means 126 will seat properly on valvev seating surface 124 of valve sea-t 123. i

The end of valve stem 131 opposite valve head 128 is provided with a shoulder 132. Spring 133 is provided to press against shoulder 132 and spider 119 in order to bias valve head 128 into a normally closedposition.

The end of valve housing 111 opposite valve head 128 is closed by plate 133 held in place against housing 111 by bolts or screws 134. Plate 130 s provided with a bonnet 136 having a recess 137 and a guide'portion 138. Plate 130 is also provided with iluid inlet 141 for the passage of hydraulic fluid into and out of inner chamber 143 of plate 130. The inner surface of plate 130 can be formed tol provide a recess 144 adaptable to receive flexible diaphragm 146 which is located at and held in Ilaafe across the outer end of valve housing 111 by plate Valve housing 111 is provided with diaphragm stem guide 147 having an opening therein suitably arranged to align diaphragm stem 148 with recess 149 in valve stem 131. Diaphragm stem guide 147 is adapted to close chamber 116 next to diaphragm 146. Diaphragm stem 148 is attached at one end to diaphragm 146 by means of diaphragm bolt 154. Stem guide 147 is so constructed as to provide a loose iit around diaphragm stem y148 and thereby permit a passageway 153 between stem guide 147 an ddiaphragm stem 148. Diaphragm stem 148 is further provided with a shield 157 which can be of such structure as to ht loosely over the. inner surface of stem guide 147 so as to form a passage Way therebetween.

Located in the recess 137 of valve bonnet 136 is push pin 158 having a push pin head 159 adapted to coact with diaphragm bolt 154. O ring 162 around pin 158 provides a seal preventing passage of fluid through guide portion 138 into recess137. At the opposite end of push pin 158 is situated a spring. retainer 163 coacting with spring 164 to bias push pin head 159 away from contact with bolt 154. Valve bonnet 136 at its outer end is formed to receive an actuating member designated generally as 166 which is adapted to coact with the end of push pin 158 to manually move diaphragm bolt 1514 so as to unseat valve 123, 126. Actuating member 166 can be comprised of annular bearing Vshoulders 168 litted into bonnet 136 as shown..` Eccentric cam167 of actuating member 166 is adapted to coact with the end of push pin 158 While shoulders 168 are adapted to coact ,with the sides of push pin 158 to hold actuating member 166 in place in bonnet 136 when push pin head 159 is out of contact with bolt 154. When push pin head 159 is advanced to contact bolt 154 to move valve stem. 131, theforce exerted by spring 164through push pin 158 on shoulder 167 will maintain contact of pin 158 with cam 167 between shoulders 168 and'hold 'actuating member 166 in desired position. Cam 167 is located eccentrically.

from `the axes of bearingshoulders 168Sso that it exerts a cam action against push pin 158 when actuating member 166 is rotated in bonnet 136.

As illustrated in Figure 6, the motor valve of the type illustrated in Figure 4 is caused to open and close by regulating the pressure of hydraulic fluid introduced into inlet 141.

With reference to Figure 5, storage tank 51 is provided for storing a fluid under' pressure, generally liquefied hydrocarbon gases 52 and such vapors as may be present. A liquid dispensing conduity 12 is connected with tank 51 in communication with huidv theerin. Conduit 54 is a hydraulic pressure iluid conduit. Pressure uid pump 56 is connected to one end of conduit- 54 to withdraw fluid from storage 59 and to deliver same under pressure into conduit 54. A motor valve 81, comprises an outlet shutoif valve 87 in liquid dispensing line 12, preferably disposed inside tank 51, and a Huid operated motor 80 and a spring 88, biasing the valve 87 closedtsee Figure 3). Motor 8i! is connected to conduit 5-4`and operated by fluid pressure therein to overcome the biasing effect of spring 88 to move valve 87 into anopen position. Pilot valve assembly 62 of lthe type illustrated in detail in Figures l and 2, preferably the valve assembly illustrated in Figure 2, is connected to ui'd dispensing conduit 12 in the manner illustrated in Figure 2. Fluid inlet 23 in housing 10 of pilot valve assembly 62 is connected with huid pressure conduit 54 by line 57. Check valve 58 is located at a point in close proximity to the discharge side of pump 56 to insure constant pressure of fluid line 54, ie., to prevent fluid in line 54 from backing through pump 56 during normal dispensing operations.

In the operation of the embodiment illustrated in Figure 5, hydraulic iluid is withdrawn from storage S9 through line 61 into the low pressure side of pump 56 and discharged therefrom through check valve 58 into conduit 54 to develop a hydraulic fluid pressure in line 54 such as from 10 to 20 p. s. i. g. to as high .as 300 p. s. i. g., dependent on the pressure exerted by fluid in the tank 51. Fluid under pressure in conduit 54 is passed to motor 80 of motor valve 87 causing the motor to move shut-off valve 87 into an open position, permitting thereby a ow of liquid from tank 51 through uid dispensing conduit 12. Normal rate of liquid ow from tank 51 can be any desired value, often from 75 to 300 gallons per minute. It is an abnormal flow by which 1 mean liquid iloW from tank 51 through conduit 12 -at a rate higher than the normal rate', with which my invention is concerned. Ordinarily such abnormal ow results from a break in line 12, or in downstream lines or vessels in direct communication therewith, thereby causing lluid to escape from the system and to constitute a serious tire hazard. In the event that such a break occurs, it is desirable to terminate the How of liquid 52 from tank 51, and this is done by bleeding or venting liuid pressure from conduit 54 thereby relieving the fluid pressure on motor 80 and permitting spring 88 to close valve 87. Bleeding of fluid from conduit 12 is done by means of pilot valve assembly 62. As illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, during normal uid iiow through conduit 12 the pilot valve in housing 10 is biased closed against the force of Huid ilow through conduit 12. In case of a break in fluid dispensing line 12 at any point downstream from pilot valve assembly 62, the flow of uid through line 12 is immediately increased to a value above normak In this case the force of the flowing fluid in conduit 12 against the shaft 16 therein, exceeds the force or" the biasing eiect exerted against the pilot valve in housing 1li so that shaft 16 is caused to pivot about its support member to move the pilot valve stem so as to unseat the pilot valve and permit hydraulic fluid from line 54 to enter pilot valve assembly 62 through line 57 and` fluid inlet 23, and to be discharged through outlet 31 into line 63. In this manner iluid pressure is discharged from pressure fluid conduit 54 and returned through line 64 to storage 59 or when desired discharged directly through line 66 to the atmosphere. When it is desired to manually terminate normal ilow of liquid from tank 52, fluid under pressure in line 54 can be withdrawn therefrom and returned to storage 59 through line 67, thereby permitting spring 88 to bias valve 87 closed.

In resuming normal flow it is necessary only to again ,introduce hydraulic fluid under pressure tov motor 8i) by means of pump 56, since shaft 16 in response to a decrease in the ow of fluid through conduit 12 from abnormal to normal pivots about support 33 in a reverse direction to permit biasing means 40 to close valve 38 (see Figure 2).

Constricted passageway 20 interconnecting conduits 23 and 31 (see Figures l and 2) provides for a gradual venting of uid from line 54, the venting rate depending on the dimensions of the passageway. Should the operator fail to manually vent the fluid pressure at the end of the dispensing operation, as might be the case when a supplemental valve is used in line 12 downstream from tank 51, that pressure will be automatically vented to cause the shut-off valve to be closed. Obviously the operator can restore such vented fluid pressure if desired. Also, pasasgeway 20 can be employed as desired.

Referring to Figure 6, motor valve 110, illustrated in Figure 4, is positioned in fluid dispensing conduit 12. Motor valve 110 is connected to fluid pressure conduit S4 and operated by fluid pressure therein to overcome the biasing effect of the spring 133 and to move valve head 128 into an open position. In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 6, hydraulic fluid is introduced under pressure through line 54 to diaphragm 146 to overcome the biasing effect of spring 133 and to cause head 128 to be unseated, permitting lluid to flow from tank 5l through outlet 116 of valve 110, and to be discharged through fluid dispensing conduit 12. Fluid discharged from valve 110 is pumped from conduit 12 by means of centrifugal pump 72 to a desired utilization through line 73. Fluid discharged from pump 72 is by-passed through line 76 and returned to tank 51, as desired, in order to permit regulation of iluid flow through line 73.

Pilot valve assembly 62 connected with fluid dispensconduit 12 in the manner discussed in Figure 5 permits normal flow to be conducted through conduit 12. ln the case of a break in the line, i. e., an abnormally high rate of ilow of fluid through conduit 12, pilot valve assembly 62 functions in the manner already discussed in connection with Figure 5, to vent fluid pressure from lluid pressure conduit 54 thereby causing the valve in valve fill? to be closed. In such a case, shaft 16 is caused to pivot about its pivotal support 32 in response to the flow of fluid through conduit 12 at an abnormally high rate to cause the pilot valve in housing llt) to open, thereby venting hydraulic pressure uid from line 54, by allowing same to pass through lluid inlet 23, and the pilot valve, and outlet 31 in housing 1), through line 74 to hydraulic lluid storage 59 or to be vented to the atmosphere as desired through line 75. If desired, fluid pressure can be vented from line 54 manually through line 77 and valve 7S.

Fusible plugs 22 are disposed preferably at a plurality of points in conduits 54, of Figures 5 and 6, so that in the case of occurrence of lire in close proximity to the liquid ilow system, these plugs become heated and melt, providing thereby openings in the side wall of such conduits 54 through which fluid under pressure therein can escape, whereby iluid is vented from the motor valve S1, or 110,

permitting the biasing spring to close the valve, terminat- 3 ing llow of liquid from tank Si. As stated hereinbefore l prefer to utilize conduits 12 and 5d disposed in parallel. 1n a preferred form of one such embodiment, a flexible fluid pressure conduit is disposed in close parallel relation to a flexible dispensing line 12 along the entire length of line 12. This is particularly advantageous when dispensing liquid from a mobile unit to a liquid storage, as for example a storage tank in a domestic heating system.

The flow system of my invention offers particular advantages in the operation of mobile units for the reason that in such cases it may happen that during the time the liquefied petroleum gas is being dispensed from, or being charged into tank 51, the dispensing unit is damaged by collision therewith of a passing vehicle, or by interference from sources uncontrolled by the operator of the unit. Any line breakage during dispensing operation is serious for the reason that it endangers the surrounding area by discharging inflammable materials thereinto. When that happens the flow of liquid from tank S1 is abnormally high and valve 2li (Figure l) or valve 38 (Figure 2) is immediately moved into an open position and fluid is vented from line 54 and the shut-off valve is closed. Similarly when for any reason conduit 54 is broken, fluid pressure is vented therefrom, permitting the valve 110, or 81, to close.

When referring herein to fluids l mean to refer to not only liqueed gases but to fluids of any type under pressure, such as ammonia, or the like, whether in gaseous or liquid states.

In one embodiment of my invention the pilot valve housi ing need not necessarily be rigidly connected to the fluid dispensing conduit. In such an embodiment the shaft 16 extends from the interior of the fluid dispensing conduit into a liquid tight housing afllxed to that conduit, so as to communicate with a pilot valve in a separate pilot valve housing. This can be done, in one manner, by extending the pilot valve stem member from the separate pilot valve housing, into the afllxed housing, in communication with the end of the shaft 16 therein, or engaging the pilot valve with the end of the shaft 16 in the affixed housing, via a supplemental shaft, rigid or flexible as desired.

As will be evident to those skilled in the art, various modifications can be made or followed, in the light of the foregoing disclosure and discussion, without departing from the spirit or scope of the disclosure or from the scope of the claims.

l claim:

l. In a iluid dispensing system comprising a tank for fluid to be dispensed, a main fluid dispensing conduit connected to said tank, a motor valve connected with said main conduit and disposed within said tank, said motor valve being biased to closed position and adapted to be opened by application of pressure of a hydraulic fluid, a source of said hydraulic fluid, a hydraulic fluid conduit in communication with said source and with said motor valve, and means positioned between said source and sai-d motor valve for establishing pressure of said hydraulic fluid in said hydraulic fluid Conduit, the improvement which comprises, in combination: a pilot valve housing having a connecting conduit in a side wall thereof, said connecting conduit being disposed to register with an opening in said main conduit; a shaft extending from the interior of said main conduit through said connecting conduit into said housing, said shaft having a transverse extension; a flanged, flexible seal ring around said shaft and closing said connecting conduit so as to flexibly support and seal said shaft, said transverse extension being imbedded in an enlarged part of said ring; said shaft being pivotally movable about said seal in response to change in the rate of iluid flow through said main conduit; a hydraulic fluid inlet in the side wall of said housing and in open communication with said hydraulic lluid conduit; a pilot valve biased to closed position in said housing and actuated in response to pivotal movement of said shaft, the inlet side of said valve being in communication with said hydraulic iluid inlet; biasing means for said pilot valve, said biasing means being positioned within said hydraulic fluid inlet; said pilot valve being adapted to be moved into an open position by said shaft when said iluid flow exceeds a predetermined value; and a hydraulic fluid outlet in a side wall of said housing in communication with the outlet side of said pilot valve and with said source of hydraulic fluid.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said pilot valve is a core-type valve positioned in said housing so that said valve is opened by contact with said shaft in response to a llolw rate in said main conduit in excess of a predetermined va ue.

3. The apparatus of claim l wherein said lluid dispensing conduit and said hydraulic fluid conduit are disposed parallel to and adjacent each other.

4. The apparatus of claim l wherein at least one plug fusible at a temperature within the limits of 80 to 300 C.

is disposed in the wall of said hydraulic lluid conduit.

References Cited in the ille of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,466,412 Samain Aug. 28, 1923 1,588,275 Schutee June 8, 1926 1,960,831 Shand May 29, 1934 2,154,777 Schalos Apr. 18, 1939 2,569,554 Buttolph Oct. 2, 1951 y FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 578,515 Great Britain 1933 

